Leaving Your Mark

Let’s face it all of us want some version of immortality. Some people have many children, or write books, or pursue other ways to leave their mark on society. Over the centuries, some folks were content with carving their names, initials, or pictoglyphs in windowpanes, brick walls, or even wooden beams. Let’s examine this in more detail.

One story deals with a black man innocently convicted of murder. While looking out the window of the courthouse he saw a mob form during an electrical storm. After he was hanged a photo of his face caused by the flash of lightning appeared into the window of the courthouse where he was watching. The image remained in place in spite of the removal and replacement of the glass and was still recognizable in 1964. This event happened in Carrollton, Alabama in 1876.

In one of the front windows in old Germantown at the Tolland House built in 1734 by George W. Tolland, a member of Congress, a pane was engraved with an equestrian stature of Frederick the Great with the signature of ” M.J. Elinkhuysen fecit, 1783, Philadelphia.”

Mary Coke and Carlissa Waller Henry carved their names in a windowpane in Colonial Williamsburg on July 8 1890.

The Old Faithful Inn at Yellowstone National Park opened in 1904. During the fall of 2000, a workman’s signature was found on one of the inn’s uppermost window frames. It was written in thick pencil with the name “Albert Rock or Roch[e]” and the date May 7, 1904.

Postville, a flag station on the Military Road between Fort Crawford, Wisconsin, and Fort Atkinson, Iowa had the National Hotel with a windowpane upstairs in a guest room inscribed: “Mrs. Harris Hoyt, Chicago, Nov. 7, 1864.”

Many of these were inscribed with finger rings with diamonds in the shape of pyramids and were a favorite for writing on glass.

A ring used by Raleigh to write on window glass in the 16th century. Beadles Monthly, 1866.

The famous Walter Raleigh wrote on a windowpane, “Fain would I rise, but that I fear to fall.” Queen Elizabeth added, “If they heart fail thee, do not rise at all.”

British poet James Montgomery wrote on a windowpane:

“Faint lines on brittle glass and clear,

A diamond pen may trace with art;

But what the feeblest hand writes here,

Remains engraven on my heart:

Then write a word, – a word or two,

And make me love to think of you.”

On a window pane in Kingswoord England, was scratched: “God is here, 1744.”

Many students at Oxford wrote on the windows and a few were published in of the Wiccamical Chaplet in 1804.

“Under some Scandalous Reflections on several Ladies.

Behold, ye Fair, on every pane

To rhyme where puny witlings try,

Some lady’s reputation slain,

Which there, as in its grave, does lie.

Be cautious then to whom ye trust,

Nor credit every Fop’s pretence;

But yield, as soon or late ye must,

To youths of secrecy and sense!”

Another one from the same source:

This once was flint, but soon it takes

Th’ impression that the diamond makes:

What sighs, what tears, what truth, what art,

Can write on Myra’s flintly hearty?

The famous Scottish poet Robert Burns was notorious for writing on windows and left quite a few poems especially on the Globe Tavern and other social places he visited.

Here is one written on a window of the King’s Arms Tavern in Dumfries.

“Ye men of wit and wealth, why all this sneering

“Gainst poor Excisemen? Give the cause a hearing;

What are you, landlords’’ rent-rolls? Teasing ledgers:

What premiers – What? Even monarchs’’ mighty gaugers:

Nay, what re priests, those seeming godly wise men?

What are they, pray, but spiritual Excisemen?

Sometimes etchings on glass can record a historic moment. Massachusetts Colonel Quincy watched Governor Gage sail to England and recorded on his windowpanes. It said:

“October 10th, 1775, Governor Gage

sailed for England

with a fair wind.”

An Englishmen who in 1715 spent some time prison wrote the following on his window glass in his cell:

That which the world miscalls a jail,

A private closet is to me;

Whilst a good conscience is my bail,

And innocence my liberty.”

Local Memories

In the Capital District, there is no shortage of memroies ethced in glass, stone, and wood. There are several homes in the historic Schenectady Stockade where residents left their intials or marks carved in windowpanes. Sylvie Briber is writing a book about the ones on her block. Several buildings along Front and Washington Streets have etchings.

Leaving inscriptions was not just for adults. Kids left them too. The old Potter School off Potter Road on the Schenectady/Amsterdam border is full of student “autographs” carved in the school’s brick work. It seems that while the teacher wasn’t looking students made quick work in leaving their names and there are entries as late as the 1970s.

Potter School on Potter Road has hundreds of student autographs on the walls. Photo by Don Rittner.

H(arry?) Potter scratched his name in 1887 on the Potter School. Photo by Don Rittner.

The Robert Sanders House on Washington Street has some memorable scriblings. Robert Sanders was the son of Thomas Sanders who settled in Albany and became a trader. He attained considerable prominence as a man of wealth and through his dealings with the Indians in public matters. He was a great land owner before his death. In 1667 he was a silversmith, as his father was before him, probably serving apprenticeship under him, and in 1692 was a merchant. George Washington had tea here at his house in 1775. His home, built about 1750, later became a school for girls (Female Academy) and over the years the students carved their initials in into the brick and even the foundation stone.

The Robert Sanders Mansion, converted to the Female Academy on Washington Street. Photo by Don Rittner

Initials carved on the front of the Female Academy. Photo by Don Rittner.

Those wanting to leave their marks crossed the entire socioeconomic spectrum. The Hermitage, a stately mansion built on the corner of Balltown Road and State Street was the home of John Duncan, later Harmanus Schuyler and Charles and Leland Stanford, all names that have made a mark in American history.

Schuyler-Standford Mansion (Ingersoll Mansion). Photo by Don Rittner.

FIRST OWNER OF THE PROPERTY

c. 1762 or 1766-67

John Duncan

“The Hermitage”

The Property was known as The Hermitage and designed by architect Samuel Fuller. In 1762, there was a transfer of 28 acres from the Dutch Church of Schenectady to John Duncan for 28 acres S.E. of ” The Township of Schenectady.” Records also show John Duncan bought the property in 1766 as a leasehold of the same church.

Samuel Fuller, one of the most distinguished architects in America and descendant from the Mayflower first came to Schenectady during the French War, on the 28th day of March, 1758, and was employed in the King’s service at Schenectady, Albany, Stillwater, Fort Edward, Lake George and Niskayuna. He was engaged in the construction of boats, wagons, log houses and shelters for the use of the army commanded by General Abercrombie until July 31st, 1758, after which he returned to Boston. He then went to Halifax, where he arrived February 7th, 1759, and continued in the royal service in the navy yard there until after the taking of Quebec by General Wolff in September 1759. He returned to Boston and then to Schenectady arriving in July 1761.

He built “The Hermitage” in Niskayuna for the merchant, John Duncan (c. 1762, or 1766-67); the Guy Park mansion, afterward the home of Sir Guy Johnson; the Claas mansion, the abode later of Colonel Daniel Claas, son-in-law of Sir William Johnson, designed and built Johnson Hall in Johnstown. He built the old court house at Johnstown; the dwelling of General Nicholas Herkimer; the Episcopal church in Schenectady (1762), the oldest Episcopal church structure in the state; the John Glen mansion; the Ten Eyck mansion, later the home of Governor Joseph C. Yates; the Daniel Campbell mansion, the latter mentioned all in Schenectady. During the years from 1761, when he took up his permanent residence in Schenectady, until his death just prior to the revolution, he was constantly employed in construction and architectural work.

On the Vrooman Map of1771, the building preceding the one today is depicted on the eastern side of Balltown Road, not where the present building is located. There may have been two residences on the same property.

The Hermitage burned down and was replaced, at a point not far distant, upon a portion of the same domain by a mansion by Harmanus Schuyler.

c. 1818

Second Owner of the property

Harmanus Schuyler

“Locust Grove”

His wife was Mary Dean. The basic building today was built c. 1818 by Harmanus Schuyler, an Albany surveyor. The property was known as Locust Grove. Schuyler died 1822 Philip Schuyler, probably his son, and Catherina Elizabeth Schuyler signed the window glass with the date AD 1828.

We know Harmanus had a daughter Marianna, born July 27, 1800 who married John Varick (Feb 5, 1802) on December 4, 1825.They moved to Norwalk, Huron County, Ohio.

1865

Third Owner of the property

Charles Stanford (1819-1885)
“Stanford Heights”

Senator Charles Stanford was a brother of Leland Stanford, Governor of California (and graduate of Troy’s RPI), for whom the University was named. Charles Stanford removed to California where he had large commercial interests with branches in Australia and New Zealand. He returned in 1865 and acquired the Hermitage property and changed the name to Stanford Heights. He probably also made outside improvements to the building as it reveals modification in brickwork as well as the facade. One Window Pane had handwriting engraved with Thomas Norton Stanford, Nov. 27, 1859 (or 69).

Sanford was a promoter of public utilities in Schenectady.

1864-75: NYS Assemblyman

1865: He founded The Daily Union in Schenectady. Sold it in 1883.

1866-1869: NYS Senator.

1868: Alternate delegate to Republican National Convention from New York.

1872: Organized a company to pump a water supply from the Mohawk River and a powerhouse was established at the foot of Ferry Street. The water soon spread typhoid to all parts of the city.

1885: Died on August 15. Entombed in mausoleum at Albany Rural Cemetery.

The Mansion site is being destroyed for a John Roth strip mall. Photo by Don Rittner.

Singatures have also been left by workers who built or worked on farms in barns, outhouses, and attics. In Glenville, a newly found Dutch Barn known as the Watt Barn has some interesting writings.

The Watt Dutch Barn on West Glenville Road in Glenville. Photo by Don Rittner.

J. H. Conde left his mark in 1801 on this Dutch Barn. He owned the property. Photo by Marieke Leeverink.

We know Richard was here. Probably a work hand for Conde. Photo by Marieke Leeverink.

Perhaps the oddest message was carved in an edge piece of limestone that may have been a stoop, foundation, or windowsill on the old Brower house on Church Street, part of which may be contemporary to the Schenectady Massacre of 1690. Chiseled in 17th century Dutch it has been transcribed as “A sad thing has happened here but it is useless to regret.”

Dutch inscription on limestone from the Brouwer House in the Stockade. Photo by Don Rittner.

Close up of Dutch inscription on Limestone block. Photo by Don Rittner.

There are probably hundreds of other examples. If you know of some, send them along and we can add them.

UPDATE

My son Chris found an interesting autograph on the side of a limestone block at Thatcher Park. In 1891 P.M.V.E. carved his or her initials pretty high up along the trail.